The Trials of Cato were Formed in 2016 by two Welsh men, Robin Jones and Tomos Williams and one English man, Will Addison. At that time the three musicians were working as English teachers in Beirut, and jokingly refered to themselves as the “the biggest British folk band to come out of the Levant (ever)”. Jokes aside their debut album, ‘Hide and Hair’ catapulted the Welsh/English trio onto folk’s center stage winning several awards on the way.
Their latest album, ‘Gog Magog’, finds Addison departed and replaced with the exciting and immense talent of Polly Bolton, formerly of The Magpies.
‘Gog Magog’ displays a band in great form. As the album title suggests, the record is soaked in mythology and ethereal folk influences. Opening with ‘Paper Plane’ the funky banjo led beat underpinning Bolton’s dreamy vocal leads the listener into the album and the joys ahead. A re-interpretation of Welsh language poem ‘Aberdaron’ by the band showcases the vocal prowess of the vocalists as their harmonies interweave with each over above sparse yet crucial instrumentation to deliver a sound that’s very reminiscent of the early days of Irish folk legends Clannad.
Three instrumentals on the album, ‘Kerhonkson Stomp’, ‘Dawns’ and ‘Balls to the Wall’, allow the influences contained within, and the complex and creative musical arrangements of the band to shine.
The brooding, ‘When Black Shuck Roams’, leads the listener on a dark tale inspired once again by English folklore and a possible portent of death. ‘Boudicca AD 60’ is a tale of strength inspired by the mythical queen who fought the Romans. ‘Ring of Roses’, allows the band to produce their own ethereal plague tale, once again utilising the vocal talents of the members to great effect.
Musically, The Trials of Cato are hard to pigeonhole. While there are, huge nods to traditional folk, new age, Eastern and Americana music in their music they have their own unique sound, which has no doubt be added greatly to by the addition of new member Bolton. Her vocal and exceptional claw hammer banjo skills have taken the band to a new level and that talent, combined with the skills of Jones and Williams have potentially lined up folk music’s next big thing.
‘Gog Magog’, is an exceptional release that bodes well for the future of folk music and The Trials of Cato.